When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Shaun Derry hopes Scott Wharton will put the pressure on Leon Legge and Mark Roberts after joining Cambridge United on loan from Blackburn until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old central defender has come through the youth programme at Rovers and has played five times for the Sky Bet Championship outfit this term.

Wharton also captained his hometown club’s under-18s team to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup last season where they lost to Chelsea.

And Derry believes the youngster can help give United decent competition at the back during the second half of the campaign.

He said: “First and foremost, we’re pleased to be able to bring another acquisition into the squad.

“We’ve been tracking him for a while, he’s a young left-footed centre-half from Blackburn Rovers who has played a number of senior games this season.

“He has been blooded into their first team, so it’s not so much of a gamble on a young one who’s not experienced first-team football.

“With the loss of Tom Dallison (following the end of his loan spell from Brighton) and Josh (Coulson) missing for the rest of the season, we knew that centre-half position was paramount in terms of bringing somebody in.

“We’re pleased that Scott has arrived and we’re hopeful he can come in and push the two who have got the shirts (Leon Legge and Mark Roberts) and try to get the shirt.

“That’s the challenge for all these players coming into the building.

“They’ve all got to grab hold of that shirt and keep it because it’s a tough shirt to grab hold of.”